Photonic Integrated Circuit Outcoupling Array for Imaging-Based Beam Steering

An imaging-based beam steering system comprising:

• one or more input light sources;
• a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) coupler array comprising:
• a plurality of couplers arranged in a coupler plane, wherein each of the plurality of couplers is configured to couple light between the coupler plane and one or more directions outside of the coupler plane;
• a pixel switch network to selectively couple light into or out of a selected subset of the plurality of couplers, wherein the pixel switch network comprises:
• one or more pixel-network waveguides;
• and
• a plurality of pixel-network switches, wherein each of the plurality of pixel-network switches is configured to selectively couple light between one of the plurality of couplers and one of the one or more pixel-network waveguides;
• and
• one or more feed networks, wherein each feed network comprises:
• a feed-line waveguide;
• and
• one or more feed-network switches to selectively couple light between the feed-line waveguide and at least some of the plurality of pixel-network waveguides, wherein light is routable between selected couplers of the plurality of couplers and selected feed-line waveguides of the one or more feed networks along selected paths by controlling the pixel-network switches and the feed-network switches along the selected paths;
• a source switch network including one or more source switches configured to selectively route light from one or more input light sources to the one or more feed networks;
• a controller coupled to the pixel-switch network and the source switch network, wherein the controller is configured to:
• receive one or more address states, wherein each of the one or more address states includes a selected input light source from the one or more input light sources and a selected coupler from the plurality of couplers;
• select a path for each of the one or more address states;
• and
• control, with one or more drive signals, the pixel-network switches, the feed-network switches, and the source switches along the paths for each of the one or more address states to direct light along the paths for each of the one or more address states;
• and
• a lens positioned with the PIC coupler array at a focal plane, wherein the lens is configured to collect the light from the PIC coupler array, wherein the light from the selected coupler emerges from the lens at one or more selected output angles based on a location of the selected coupler for each of the one or more address states.

An imaging-based beam receiving system comprising:

• a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) coupler array comprising:
• a plurality of couplers arranged in a coupler plane, wherein each of the plurality of couplers is configured to couple light between the coupler plane and one or more directions outside of the coupler plane;
• a pixel switch network to selectively couple light into or out of a selected subset of the plurality of couplers, wherein the pixel switch network comprises:
• one or more pixel-network waveguides;
• and
• a plurality of pixel-network switches, wherein each of the plurality of pixel-network switches is configured to selectively couple light between one of the plurality of couplers and one of the one or more pixel-network waveguides;
• and
• one or more feed networks, wherein each feed network comprises:
• a feed-line waveguide;
• and
• one or more feed-network switches to selectively couple light between the feed-line waveguide and at least some of the plurality of pixel-network waveguides, wherein light is routable between selected couplers of the plurality of couplers and selected feed-line waveguides of the one or more feed networks along selected paths by controlling the pixel-network switches and the feed-network switches along the selected paths;
• a lens positioned with the PIC coupler array at a focal plane, wherein the lens is configured to direct light to the light from the PIC coupler array, wherein the lens maps light from selected input angles incident on the lens to selected locations of the PIC coupler array;
• one or more light detectors;
• a receiver switch network including one or more receiver switches configured to selectively route light from the one or more feed networks to one or more light detectors;
• and
• a controller coupled to the pixel-switch network and the receiver switch network, wherein the controller is configured to:
• receive one or more address states, wherein each of the one or more address states includes a selected light detector from the one or more light detectors and a selected coupler from the plurality of couplers;
• select a path for each of the one or more address states;
• and
• control, with one or more drive signals, the pixel-network switches, the feed-network switches, and the receiver switches along the paths for each of the one or more address states to direct light along the paths for each of the one or more address states for detection by the one or more light detectors.